Connector

ABSTRACT

A connector includes a ground pin and a signal pin. The ground pin includes a first cylindrical part, a first cylindrical terminal telescopically movable into the first cylindrical part, and a first elastic member compressible in a first central axis direction. The signal pin includes a second cylindrical part, a second cylindrical terminal telescopically movable into the second cylindrical part, and a second elastic member compressible in a second central axis direction. The signal pin is provided concentrically with the first elastic member and the first cylindrical part, and has a one-piece structure of a single metal plate. The first and the second cylindrical parts are connected to a ground line and a signal line of a board with the first and second cylindrical terminals being in contact with the board and compressed in the first and second central axis directions, respectively.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is based upon and claims the benefit of priorityof Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-090557, filed on Apr. 24, 2014,the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to connectors.

2. Description of the Related Art

For example, Japanese National Publication of International PatentApplication No. 2008-545242 illustrates a compliant contactor thatincludes a center conductor and an outer conductor with a spacertherebetween. The outer conductor has a mating end adapted to be capableof flexibly contacting an outer conductor mating surface before thecenter conductor contacts a center conductor mating surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, a connector includes aground pin and a signal pin. The ground pin includes a first cylindricalpart, a first cylindrical terminal telescopically movable into the firstcylindrical part, and a first elastic member compressible in a firstcentral axis direction. The signal pin includes a second cylindricalpart, a second cylindrical terminal telescopically movable into thesecond cylindrical part, and a second elastic member compressible in asecond central axis direction. The signal pin is provided concentricallywith the first elastic member and the first cylindrical part, and has aone-piece structure of a single metal plate. The first and the secondcylindrical parts are connected to a ground line and a signal line of aboard with the first and second cylindrical terminals being in contactwith the board and compressed in the first and second central axisdirections, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a connector according to afirst embodiment;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are enlarged views of part of the connector according tothe first embodiment;

FIGS. 3A through 3F are diagrams illustrating a method of manufacturinga signal pin according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 4A through 4C are diagrams illustrating the method ofmanufacturing a signal pin according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 5A through 5C are diagrams illustrating the method ofmanufacturing a signal pin according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 6A through 6C are diagrams illustrating the method ofmanufacturing a signal pin according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 7A through 7C are diagrams illustrating the method ofmanufacturing a signal pin according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 8A through 8C are diagrams illustrating the method ofmanufacturing a signal pin according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 9A through 9C are diagrams illustrating the method ofmanufacturing a signal pin according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a surface of a board to whichterminals of the connector according to the first embodiment areconnected;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating a connector according to asecond embodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a ground pin and a signalpin of the connector according to the second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments to which a connector according to an aspect of the presentinvention is applied are described below.

First Embodiment

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a perspective view and an exploded perspective view,respectively, of a connector 100 according to a first embodiment. FIGS.2A and 2B are enlarged views of part of the connector 100. In FIGS. 1Athrough 2B, an XYZ coordinate system, which is a Cartesian coordinatesystem, is defined as illustrated, where the positive half (side) ofeach of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis is indicated by an arrow.Hereinafter, the direction of each axis, that is, the direction from thenegative side to the positive side of each axis, is referred to as“positive axis direction”, and the direction opposite to the positiveaxis direction is referred to as “negative axis direction.”

The connector 100 includes housings 110, ground pins 120, and signalpins 130. FIGS. 1A and 1B also illustrate boards 150 connected to theconnector 100. The boards 150 are, for example, FR4 (Flame Retardanttype 4) boards, and include an insulating layer formed of a glass epoxyresin, ground lines 151, and signal lines 152. Hereinafter, the housings110 may be collectively referred to as “housing 110.”

The housing 110 is formed of an insulating material such as an epoxyresin. Referring to FIG. 1B, holes 111 and 112 are formed through thehousing 110 in the positive Y-axis direction. Furthermore, cuts 113 areformed in the housing 110 so as to extend from an end of the housing 110in the negative Y-axis direction.

The ground pins 120 and the signal pins 130 are inserted into the holes111 and 112, respectively, so as to be attached to the housing 110 asillustrated in FIG. 1A. The boards 150 are inserted into the cuts 113 ofthe housing 110, so that the ground lines 151 formed on the boards 150are connected to the ground pins 120 and the signal lines 152 formed onthe boards 150 are connected to the signal pins 130. The ground lines151 are provided in pairs with one ground line 151 on each side of eachsignal line 152 and extend parallel to the signal lines 152, so as toform a coplanar waveguide in order to set the characteristic impedanceof each signal line 152 to a predetermined value (for example, 50Ω).

The ground pins 120 and the signal pins 130 are insulated from eachother when attached to the housing 110 as illustrated in FIG. 1A. Theground pins 120 and the signal pins 130 have respective cylindricalshapes that are different in diameter, and basically have the sameconfiguration. The ground pins 120 and the signal pins 130 areconcentrically disposed when viewed in an XZ plane. In the followingdescription, the ground pins 120 may be collectively referred to as“ground pin 120” and the signal pins 130 may be collectively referred toas “signal pin 130.” Furthermore, the boards 150 may be collectivelyreferred to as “board 150.”

Each of the ground pin 120 and the signal pin 130 is formed of a singlemetal plate. Each of the ground pin 120 and the signal pin 130 is formedby, for example, blanking a piece having a predetermined shape out of acopper plate and thereafter bending the blanked-out piece.

The ground pin 120 includes a terminal 121, a terminal 122, a cover 123,and a connecting part 124. The ground pin 120 includes elements otherthan the terminals 121 and 122, the cover 123, and the connecting part124. The terminals 121 and 122 and the cover 123 are visible in thefinished-product state of the ground pin 120 illustrated in FIG. 1B. Theconnecting part 124 is illustrated in FIG. 2B.

The terminal 121 is positioned at a first end of the ground pin 120(facing in the negative Y-axis direction). The terminal 121 has acylindrical shape including a gap that faces in the negative Z-axisdirection. A cross section of the terminal 121 parallel to an XZ planehas a C shape. The terminal 121 is connected via the connecting part 124provided inside the cover 123 to the terminal 122 at a second end of theground pin 120 opposite to the first end.

The terminal 122 has a cylindrical shape including a gap that faces inthe negative Z-axis direction. A cross section of the terminal 122parallel to an XZ plane has a C shape. The cylindrical shape of theterminal 122 is slightly larger in diameter than the cylindrical shapeof the terminal 121.

Furthermore, cuts 122A are formed in the terminal 122 so as to extendfrom an end of the terminal 122 in the negative Y-axis direction. Thecorresponding ground lines 151 of the board 150 are connected to thecuts 122A of the terminal 122.

The cover 123 has the shape of the terminal 122 elongated in thenegative Y-axis direction. That is, the cover 123 has a cylindricalshape including a gap that faces in the negative Z-axis direction, and across section of the cover 123 parallel to an XZ plane has a C shape.The cylindrical shape of the cover 123 is equal in diameter to thecylindrical shape of the terminal 122.

The terminals 121 and 122 are connected by the connecting part 124 (FIG.23) provided inside the cylinder of the cover 123. The connecting part124 is elastic so as to be extendable and compressible in directionsalong the Y-axis. The connecting part 124 has a shape similar to theshape of a meandering member, extending through a series of turns in thepositive (or negative) Y-axis direction, bent into a cylindrical shapealong an internal circumferential surface of the cover 123.

When the connecting part 124 is compressed, the terminal 121 moves inthe positive Y-axis direction from the position illustrated in FIG. 1Brelative to the terminal 122. That is, the terminal 121 istelescopically movable into the cover 123.

When the ground pin 120 of the above-described configuration is attachedto the housing 110 as illustrated in FIG. 1A, the terminal 121 projectsin the negative Y-axis direction from a surface 110A of the housing 110.Furthermore, the cover 123 is inside the corresponding hole 111 of thehousing 110 so that an end of the cover 123 facing in the negativeY-axis direction is positioned in the same plane as the surface 110A.That is, when the ground pin 120 is attached to the corresponding hole111 of the housing 110, a portion of the terminal 121 extending in thenegative Y-axis direction from the cover 123 illustrated in FIG. 1Bextends from the surface 110A of the housing 110. The configuration ofthe ground pin 120 is described in more detail below.

The signal pin 130 includes a terminal 131, a terminal 132, a cover 133,and a connecting part 134 (described below with reference to FIGS. 3Athrough 9C). Each signal pin 130 has a cylindrical shape smaller indiameter than the cylindrical shape of the ground pin 120. The signalpin 130 has the same configuration as the ground pin 120 except for thedetailed configurations of the terminals 131 and 132. The connectingpart 134 of the signal pin 130, which has the same configuration as theconnecting part 124 of the ground pin 120, is not illustrated in FIGS.1A through 23.

The terminal 131 is positioned at a first end of the signal pin 130(facing in the negative Y-axis direction), and has a cylindrical shape.The terminal 131 has the shape of a single metal plate rolled into acylindrical shape around a central axis parallel to the Y-axis.Therefore, the terminal 131 has a substantially circular shape although,technically speaking, the circumference is discontinuous, when viewed inan XZ plane. The terminal 131 is connected to the terminal 132positioned at a second end of the signal pin 130 opposite to the firstend via the connecting part 134 provided inside the cover 133.Furthermore, the terminal 131 includes a pair of projections 131A thatproject in the negative Y-axis direction. The terminal 131, however,does not have to include the projections 131A. In this case, an end ofthe terminal 131 facing in the negative Y-axis direction is flat alongan XZ plane.

The terminal 132 has a cylindrical shape. The terminal 132 has the shapeof a single metal plate rolled into a cylindrical shape around a centralaxis parallel to the Y-axis. Therefore, the terminal 132 has asubstantially circular shape although, technically speaking, thecircumference is discontinuous, when viewed in an XZ plane. Thecylindrical shape of the terminal 132 is slightly larger in diameterthan the cylindrical shape of the terminal 131.

Furthermore, cuts 132A are formed in the terminal 132 so as to extendfrom an end of the terminal 132 in the negative Y-axis direction. Thecorresponding signal line 152 of the board 150 is connected to the cuts132A of the terminal 132.

The cover 133 has the shape of the terminal 132 elongated in thenegative Y-axis direction. That is, the cover 133 has a cylindricalshape, and a cross section of the cover 133 parallel to an XZ plane hasa substantially circular shape. The cylindrical shape of the cover 133is equal in diameter to the cylindrical shape of the terminal 132.

The terminals 131 and 132 are connected by the connecting part 134provided inside the cylinder of the cover 133. The connecting part 134of the signal pin 130, although not illustrated in FIGS. 1A through 2B,has, the same configuration as the connecting part 124 of the ground pin120.

Therefore, the connecting part 134 of the signal pin 130 is elastic soas to be extendable and compressible in directions along the Y-axis. Theconnecting part 134 has a shape similar to the shape of a meanderingmember, extending through a series of turns in the positive (ornegative) Y-axis direction, bent into a cylindrical shape along aninternal circumferential surface of the cover 133.

When the connecting part 134 of the signal pin 130 is compressed, theterminal 131 moves in the positive Y-axis direction from the positionillustrated in FIG. 1B relative to the terminal 132. That is, theterminal 131 is telescopically movable into the cover 133.

When the signal pin 130 of the above-described configuration is attachedto the housing 110 as illustrated in FIG. 1A, the terminal 131 projectsin the negative Y-axis direction from the surface 110A of the housing110. Furthermore, the cover 133 is inside the corresponding hole 112 ofthe housing 110 so that an end of the cover 133 facing in the negativeY-axis direction is positioned in the same plane as the surface 110A.That is, when the signal pin 130 is attached to the corresponding hole112 of the housing 110, a portion of the terminal 131 extending in thenegative Y-axis direction from the cover 133 illustrated in FIG. 1Bextends from the surface 110A of the housing 110. The configuration ofthe signal pin 130 is described in more detail below.

Next, a method of manufacturing the ground pin 120 and the signal pin130 and more specific configurations of the ground pin 120 and thesignal pin 130 are described. As described above, the ground pin 120 andthe signal pin 130 are similar in configuration. Accordingly, here, thesignal pin 130 is described.

FIGS. 3A through 3F, FIGS. 4A through 4C, FIGS. 5A through 5C, FIGS. 6Athrough 6C, FIGS. 7A through 7C, FIGS. 8A through 8C, and FIGS. 9Athrough 9C are diagrams illustrating a method of manufacturing thesignal pin 130 according to the first embodiment. FIGS. 3A through 3Fare perspective views of the signal pin 130. FIGS. 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A, 8Aand 9A are plan views of the signal pin 130. FIGS. 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 8Band 9B are side views of the signal pin 130 taken in a longitudinaldirection of the signal pin 130. FIGS. 4C, 5C, 6C, 7C, 8C and 9C areside views of the signal pin 130 taken in a direction perpendicular to alongitudinal direction of the signal pin 130. FIG. 3A corresponds toFIGS. 4A through 4C, FIG. 3B corresponds to FIGS. 5A through 5C, FIG. 3Ccorresponds to FIGS. 6A through 6C, FIG. 3D corresponds to FIGS. 7Athrough 7C, FIG. 3E corresponds to FIGS. 8A through 8C, and FIG. 3Fcorresponds to FIGS. 9A through 9C. In the following description, anelement in the middle of a manufacturing process is indicated by adding“M” to its reference numeral.

First, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 4A through 4C, a metal plate 130Mis prepared. The metal plate 130M is blanked out from a single sheet ofmetal in order to form the signal pin 130 (FIG. 1B). The metal plate130M includes a terminal 131M, a terminal 132M, a cover 133M, aconnecting part 134M and a connecting part 135M.

The terminal 131M, the terminal 132M, and the cover 133M, which have aflat plate shape, are the terminal 131, the terminal 132, and the cover133 illustrated in FIG. 1B, respectively, before bending. Furthermore,the connecting parts 134M and 135M connect the terminals 131M and 132M.The connecting part 134M has a meandering shape in a plan view. Theconnecting part 135M has a linear shape.

The terminal part 131M is provided with a pair of projections 131AM. Theterminal 132M is an end portion of the cover 133M. Cuts 132AM are formedin the terminal 132M. Three projections 133AM are formed on the cover133.

Next, the connecting part 134M is bent into a cylindrical shape so as toform the connecting part 134, and the projections 131AM are bent, asillustrated in FIGS. 3B and 5A through 5C. The connecting part 134M maybe bent using a mold having a curvature corresponding to the outsidediameter of the connecting part 134, for example. As described above,the connecting part 134 is formed by bending a member having ameandering shape in a plan view (FIG. 4A) into a cylindrical shape whosecentral axis is parallel to directions in which the member having ameandering shape extends through a series of turns. Therefore, theconnecting part 134 has such spring elasticity as to be extendable andcompressible in the directions in which the member having a meanderingshape extends through a series of turns.

Next, the terminal 131M is bent into a cylindrical shape so as to formthe terminal 131 as illustrated in FIGS. 3C and 6A through 6C. Theterminal 131M may be bent using a mold having a curvature correspondingto the outside diameter of the terminal 131, for example.

Next, both longitudinal side edges of the cover 133M are slightly benttoward each other as illustrated in FIGS. 3D and 7A through 7C. Thisbending of the cover 133M may be performed using a mold having asuitable shape.

Next, the connecting part 135M is bent in the middle in its longitudinaldirection so as to be folded back, so that the terminal 131 and theconnecting part 134, and the cover 133M are on top of each other asillustrated in FIGS. 3E and 8A through 8C. At this point, the terminal131 and the connecting part 134, and the cover 133M are kept at apredetermined distance from each other so as to be out of contact witheach other. In order to thus keep the terminal 131 and the connectingpart 134, and the cover 133M out of contact with each other, the radiusof curvature at the time of bending the cover 133M may be determined tobe greater than the radius of curvature of the cylindrical shape of eachof the terminal 131 and the connecting part 134. As a result of theabove-described process, the connecting part 135M becomes a connectingpart 135.

Finally, the longitudinal side edges of the cover 133M are further benttoward each other, so that the cover 133M is bent into a cylindricalshape. As a result, the cover 133 is concentrically provided around theterminal 132 and the connecting part 134 as illustrated in FIGS. 3F and9A through 9C.

According to the signal pin 130 thus manufactured, the terminal 131 istelescopically movable relative to the cover 133 because of the springelasticity of the connecting part 134. Projections 133A are provided onthe cover 133 so as to engage the signal pin 130 with an inner wall ofthe corresponding hole 112 of the housing 110 when the signal pin 130 isinserted into the corresponding hole 112.

While the manufacturing process of the signal pin 130 is describedabove, the ground pin 120 may also be manufactured from a single metalplate in the same manner. That is, the terminal 131, the terminal 132,the cover 133, and the connecting part 134 of the signal pin 130correspond to the terminal 121, the terminal 122, the cover 133, and theconnecting part 124, respectively, of the ground pin 120. The ground pin120 includes a linear connecting part corresponding to the connectingpart 135 of the signal pin 130, and the terminal 121 and the cover 123are connected by this linear connecting part. Accordingly, the terminal121 of the ground pin 120 is telescopically movable relative to thecover 123 because of the spring elasticity of the connecting part 124.

Next, a board 300 to which the terminals 121 and 131 of the connector100 according to the first embodiment are connected is described.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a surface of the board 300. Annularelectrically conductive parts 301 and circular electrically conductiveparts 302 are formed on a surface of the board 300. Hereinafter, theelectrically conductive parts 301 and the electrically conductive parts302 may be collectively referred to as “electrically conductive part301” and “electrically conductive part 302,” respectively. Theelectrically conductive part 302 is positioned at the center of theelectrically conductive part 301 in a plan view. The electricallyconductive parts 301 and 302 are connected to a ground line and a signalline, respectively, of the board 300. The electrically conductive parts301 and 302 are concentrically provided.

The diameter and the width of the annular shape of the electricallyconductive part 301 are set to values corresponding to the diameter andthe thickness of an end of the cylindrical terminal 121 of the connector100. The diameter of the electrically conductive part 302 is set to avalue corresponding to the diameter of an end of the cylindricalterminal 131 of the connector 100.

By connecting the terminals 121 and 131 to the electrically conductiveparts 301 and 302, respectively, it is possible to connect the groundpin 120 and the signal pin 130 to a ground line and a signal line,respectively, of the board 300.

For example, by connecting the terminals 121 and 131 to the electricallyconductive parts 301 and 302, respectively, by soldering or the like,and fixing the connector 100 to the board 300 using a jig while pressingthe connector 100 against the board 300, the terminals 121 and 131 arecovered with the concentrically provided covers 123 and 133,respectively.

Therefore, it is possible to connect the terminals 121 and 131 and theelectrically conductive parts 301 and 302 with impedance matching. Inparticular, the terminal 121 of the ground pin 120 is cylindrical in aplan view and the terminal 131 is positioned inside the cylinder of theterminal 121, and the electrically conductive part 301 is annular andthe electrically conductive part 302 is concentrically provided insidethe circle of the electrically conductive part 301 in a plan view.Therefore, it is possible to achieve desirable impedance matching at theconnection of the terminals 121 and 131 and the electrically conductiveparts 301 and 302.

Furthermore, each signal line 152 of the board 150 (illustrated in FIGS.1A and 1B) forms a coplanar waveguide with impedance matching with theground lines 151 provided one on each side of the signal line 152 so asto extend parallel to the signal line 152. The board 150 is insertedinto the cuts 122A and 132A, so that the ground lines 151 and the signalline 152 are connected to the terminals 122 and 132, respectively.

Accordingly, it is possible to connect the terminals 122 and 132 of theconnector 100 and the ground lines 151 and the signal line 152 of theboard 150 with impedance matching.

Thus, according to the connector 100 of the first embodiment, it ispossible to connect the connector 100 and the board 150 with impedancematching and to connect the connector 100 and the board 300 withimpedance matching.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to providethe connector 100 capable of transmitting a signal with impedancematching.

In the configuration described above, an end of the cover 123 ispositioned in the same plane as the surface 110A of the housing 110.Alternatively, an end of the cover 123 may project from the surface 110Aof the housing 110. In this case, the terminal 121 may project from thecover 123.

Second Embodiment

FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating a connector 200 according toa second embodiment. According to the connector 200, the cover 123 andthe terminal 122 of the ground pin 120 of the first embodiment aremanufactured from a metal plate different from that of the terminal 121of the connecting part 124 of the ground pin 120, and the connectingpart 124 and the terminal 122 are joined. The signal pin 130 of thefirst embodiment does not include the cuts 132A.

The connector 200 includes housings 210 (hereinafter collectivelyreferred to as “housing 210”), ground pins 220 (hereinafter collectivelyreferred to as “ground pin 220”), and signal pins 230 (hereinaftercollectively referred to as “signal pin 230”). FIGS. 11A and 11B alsoillustrate coaxial cables 250 (hereinafter collectively referred to as“cable 250”) that connect to the connector 200.

The housing 210 is the same as the housing 110 of the first embodiment.Referring to FIG. 11B, holes 211 and 212 are formed through the housing210 in the positive Y-axis direction.

The ground pin 220 and the signal pin 230 are inserted into thecorresponding holes 211 and 212, respectively, so that the ground pin220 and the signal pin 230 are attached to the housing 210 asillustrated in FIG. 11A.

The ground pin 220 and the signal pin 230 are insulated from each otherwhen attached to the housing 210 as illustrated in FIG. 11A. The groundpin 220 and the signal pin 230 have respective cylindrical shapes thatare different in diameter, and basically have the same configuration.The ground pin 220 and the signal pin 230 are concentrically disposedwhen viewed in an XZ plane.

The ground pin 220 includes a terminal 221, a terminal 222, a cover 223,a connecting part 224, and a connecting part 225. FIG. 12 is a schematicdiagram illustrating the ground pin 220 and the signal pin 230 of theconnector 200 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 12, the insideof the ground pin 220 is illustrated in a see-through manner. Theterminal 221, the connecting part 224, and the connecting part 225 areformed of a single metal plate, and the terminal 222 and the cover 223are formed of another single metal plate. That is, the ground pin 220 isformed of two metal plates.

The terminal 221 is positioned at one end of the connecting part 224(facing in the negative Y-axis direction). Like the connecting part 124of the ground pin 120 of the first embodiment, the connecting part 224is a member having spring elasticity.

The terminal 222 is positioned at one end of the cylindrical cover 223(facing in the positive Y-axis direction). Like the cover 223, theterminal 222 has a cylindrical shape. The terminal 222 is smaller indiameter than the cover 223. The connecting part 225 is fitted into theterminal 222. A shield line 251 of the coaxial cable 250 is fitted intothe connecting part 225. The diameter of the cylindrical shape of theconnecting part 225 is set to a value substantially equal to the outsidediameter of the shield line 251 of the coaxial cable 250, so that theshield line 251 may be fitted into the connecting part 225.

The cover 223 has the shape of the terminal 222 elongated in thenegative Y-axis direction. The diameter of the cover 223, however, isgreater than the diameter of the cylindrical shape of the terminal 222.

The terminals 221 and 222 are connected by the connecting parts 224 and225 provided inside the cylinder of the cover 223. The connecting part224 is elastic so as to be extendable and compressible in directionsalong the Y-axis. The connecting part 224 has a shape similar to theshape of a meandering member, extending through a series of turns in thepositive (or negative) Y-axis direction, bent into a cylindrical shapealong an internal circumferential surface of the cover 223. The terminal221 is an end portion of the connecting part 224 facing in the negativeY-axis direction. Therefore, the terminal 221 is circular when viewed inan XZ plane.

The connecting part 225 extends from an end of the connecting part 224in the positive Y-axis direction. The connecting part 225 is acylindrical member having an outside diameter equal to the insidediameter of the terminal 222. The connecting part 225 is fitted into theterminal 222. As a result, the terminal 221, the connecting part 224 andthe connecting part 225, and the terminal 222 and the cover 223 areintegrated.

When the connecting part 224 is compressed, the terminal 221 moves inthe positive Y-axis direction from the position illustrated in FIG. 11Brelative to the connecting part 225. That is, the terminal 221 istelescopically movable into the cover 223.

The terminal 221, the connecting part 224, and the connecting part 225may be manufactured from a single metal plate in the same manner as theground pin 120 of the first embodiment excluding the cover part 123 andthe terminal 122. Furthermore, the terminal 222 and the cover 223 may bemanufactured from another single metal plate.

When the ground pin 220 of the above-described configuration is attachedto the housing 210 as illustrated in FIG. 11A, the terminal 221 projectsin the negative Y-axis direction from a surface 210A of the housing 210.Furthermore, the cover 223 is inside the corresponding hole 211 of thehousing 210 so that an end of the cover 223 facing in the negativeY-axis direction is positioned in the same plane as the surface 210A.That is, when the ground pin 220 is attached to the corresponding hole211 of the housing 210, a portion of the terminal 221 extending in thenegative Y-axis direction from the cover 223 illustrated in FIG. 11Bextends from the surface 210A of the housing 210. The configuration ofthe ground pin 220 is described in more detail below.

The cylindrical shape of the signal pin 230 is smaller in diameter thanthe cylindrical shape of the ground pin 220. The signal pin 230 has thesame configuration as the signal pin 130 of the first embodiment exceptthat the signal pin 230 does not include the cuts 132A. The signal pin230 includes a terminal 231, a terminal 232, a cover 233, and aconnecting part having the same configuration as the connecting part 134of the first embodiment. The terminal 231 includes a pair of projections231A that project in the negative Y-axis direction. The terminal 231,however, does not have to include the projections 231A. In this case, anend of the terminal 231 facing in the negative Y-axis direction is flatalong an XZ plane. A core 252 of the coaxial cable 250 connects to theterminal 232.

When the signal pin 230 is attached to the housing 210 as illustrated inFIG. 11A, the terminal 231 projects in the negative Y-axis directionfrom the surface 210A of the housing 210. Furthermore, the cover 233 isinside the corresponding hole 212 of the housing 210 so that an end ofthe cover 233 facing in the negative Y-axis direction is positioned inthe same plane as the surface 210A. That is, when the signal pin 230 isattached to the corresponding hole 212 of the housing 210, a portion ofthe terminal 231 extending in the negative Y-axis direction from thecover 233 illustrated in FIG. 11B extends from the surface 210A of thehousing 210.

The terminal 221 of the ground pin 220 of the connector 200 according tothe second embodiment is connected to the electrically conductive part301 of the board 300 illustrated in FIG. 10. The terminal 221 is equalin diameter to the electrically conductive part 301. Therefore, it ispossible to connect the terminal 221, which is circular when viewed inan XZ plane, to the annular electrically conductive part 301.Furthermore, it is possible to connect the terminal 231 of the signalpin 230 to the electrically conductive part 302 of the board 300 in thesame manner as the signal pin 130 of the connector 100 of the firstembodiment.

Therefore, it is possible to connect the connector 200 to the board 300with impedance matching on the side facing in the negative Y-axisdirection.

Furthermore, on the side of the connector 200 facing in the positiveY-axis direction, the shield line 251 of the coaxial cable 250 is fittedinto the connecting part 225 of the ground pin 220, and the terminal 232of the signal pin 230 is connected to the core 252 of the coaxial cable250.

Therefore, it is possible to connect the connector 200 to the coaxialcable 250 with impedance matching on the side facing in the positiveY-axis direction.

Thus, according to the connector 200 of the second embodiment, it ispossible to connect the connector 200 and the coaxial cable 250 withimpedance matching and to connect the connector 200 and the board 300with impedance matching.

Therefore, according to the second embodiment, it is possible to providethe connector 200 capable of transmitting a signal with impedancematching.

In the configuration described above, an end of the cover 223 ispositioned in the same plane as the surface 210A of the housing 210.Alternatively, an end of the cover 223 may project from the surface 210Aof the housing 210. In this case, the terminal 221 may project from thecover 223.

Furthermore, in the configuration described above, the coaxial cable 250is connected to the connector 200. Alternatively, the same cuts as thecuts 122A of the terminal 122 of the ground pin 120 of the firstembodiment may be formed in the terminal 222, and the same cuts as thecuts 132A of the terminal 132 of the signal pin 130 of the firstembodiment may be formed in the connecting part 225, so that the board150 may be connected to the connector 200 in the same manner as in thefirst embodiment.

Furthermore, the coaxial cable 250 may be connected to the connector 100of the first embodiment.

All examples and conditional language provided herein are intended forpedagogical purposes of aiding the reader in understanding the inventionand the concepts contributed by the inventors to further the art, andare not to be construed as limitations to such specifically recitedexamples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples inthe specification relate to a showing of the superiority or inferiorityof the invention. Connectors have been described above based on one ormore embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood,however, that various changes, substitutions, and alterations could bemade hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A connector to be connected to a ground line anda signal line formed on a board, the connector comprising: a housing; aground pin provided inside a hole in the housing, the ground pinincluding a first cylindrical part; a first cylindrical terminal thathas a diameter smaller than a diameter of the first cylindrical part,and is telescopically movable into the first cylindrical part in adirection of a first central axis of the first cylindrical part; and afirst elastic member provided inside the first cylindrical part, thefirst elastic member connecting the first cylindrical terminal and thefirst cylindrical part and extending in the direction of the firstcentral axis in a meandering and cylindrical manner along an internalsurface of the first cylindrical part, the first elastic member beingcompressible in the direction of the first central axis; and a signalpin formed of a one-piece metal plate, and is held in the housing, thesignal pin including a second cylindrical part; a second cylindricalterminal that has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the secondcylindrical part, and is telescopically movable into the secondcylindrical part in a direction of a second central axis of the secondcylindrical part; and a second elastic member provided inside the secondcylindrical part, the second elastic member connecting the secondcylindrical terminal and the second cylindrical part and extending inthe direction of the second central axis in a meandering and cylindricalmanner along an internal surface of the second cylindrical part, thesecond elastic member being compressible in the direction of the secondcentral axis, wherein the signal pin is provided concentrically with thefirst elastic member and the first cylindrical part, the firstcylindrical terminal and the second cylindrical terminal extend outwardfrom an end of the housing, and the first cylindrical part and thesecond cylindrical part are connected to the ground line and the signalline, respectively, with the first cylindrical terminal and the secondcylindrical terminal being in contact with the board and compressed inthe direction of the first central axis and the direction of the secondcentral axis, respectively.
 2. The connector as claimed in claim 1,wherein the ground pin is formed of a one-piece metal plate differentfrom the metal plate forming the signal pin.
 3. The connector as claimedin claim 1, wherein the first cylindrical part is formed of a firstmetal plate, and the first elastic member and the first cylindricalterminal are formed of a second metal plate.
 4. The connector as claimedin claim 1, wherein an end of the first cylindrical part connects to aground line of a coaxial cable, and an end of the second cylindricalpart connects to a core of the coaxial cable.
 5. The connector asclaimed in claim 1, wherein a first cut is formed in the firstcylindrical part so as to extend from an end thereof in a directionopposite to the direction of the first central axis, and a second cut isformed in the second cylindrical part so as to extend from an endthereof in a direction opposite to the direction of the second centralaxis, and wherein, with an additional board being inserted into thefirst cut and the second cut, a ground line and a signal line formed atan end of the additional board are connected to the first cylindricalpart and the second cylindrical part, respectively.